India Needs International Standards in Accreditation Problems in Adoption and Implementation

The paper outlines in brief, need and importance of introducing global quality standards in accreditation, prescribed by the international agreement "Washington Accord". This agreement is initially provisional and after scrutiny, if found fit, it is upgraded to Signatory status. It is this status which empowers students of engineering, to become internationally mobile to harness job opportunities in world market. It facilitates mutual recognition of professional qualifications and reduces barriers between nations for mobility of engineering personnel for employment, career advancement and pursuing higher education. However, there are problems in adoption and implementation. The problems are in respect of scope of the institutions which ought to include now more of research & development. Research needs to be increased with a view to enlarge student's innovation capacity and imagination to global level. The paper attempts to identify the problems and evolve possible solutions. India, to be able to fulfill its declared dream of becoming a developed nation by 2020, needs not simple professionals, but movers & shakers, technology pioneers and industry leaders of world class standard, which can come only by becoming member of the international agreement. The paper takes a note of the discussions and deliberations in World Summit on Accreditation (WOSA 2012) held in Delhi from March 25-28, 2012 and argue that now National Board of Accreditation [NBA] an autonomous body should not remain just doing inspection to measure and certify quality. But it should guide colleges to diagnose problems and give appropriate prescriptions to improve. NBA should assert and be objective enough without fear and favour, in public interest, to give signals to improve physical infrastructure and academic culture. It is understandable that to begin with only a few institutions will come up to global standards. But we must begin somewhere; the number will rise from year to year. Unaccredited institutions simultaneously may continue producing graduates, and they should be pursuing to attain international standards. International accreditation Council of Quality education and Research [IACQER] which is an organization in the world works along with the institutions to upgrade their education and research standards. Our institutions must have to associate to take guidance (Dinesh, 2012). Although HRD minister Hon Kapil Sibble in the conference speech expressed desire to make accreditation obligatory, at present juncture of time, due to inherent problems some of which are outlined below, it is difficult. In the initial stages till institutions are accredited they will have to remain unaccredited. They cannot be accredited right at birth. Younger generation is seeking increased mobility and wider access to opportunity in world market for employment, career advancement and pursuing higher studies. This necessitates adoption of international standards. Conclusions are drawn so as to enable India to join the band of developed nations.